“Made in Ethiopia” Movement Key to Advancing Economic Sovereignty, Senior Officials Say

Addis Ababa, June 7, 2026 (FMC) — Senior officials have emphasized that the “Made in Ethiopia” movement represents a crucial phase in the country’s broader efforts to strengthen economic sovereignty through domestic production and value addition.

The closing ceremony of the regional “Made in Ethiopia” initiative was held on Sunday in Kombolcha city, Amhara Regional State.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Arega Kebede, Chief Administrator of the Amhara Regional State, said the movement is an integral part of ongoing national efforts aimed at ensuring economic self-reliance by expanding the use of local resources in manufacturing.

He noted that the initiative is grounded in the principle of producing goods domestically by leveraging Ethiopia’s own resources and human capital, describing it as a key pillar in the broader drive toward safeguarding national economic sovereignty.

According to Mr. Arega, the movement is already contributing to a shift in the country’s economic structure—from one largely dependent on consumption and imports to a more production-oriented system driven by local capacity.

He further stated that while progress in high-end industrial development has been encouraging, greater attention should also be given to the expansion of medium-scale industries to promote inclusive growth and wider economic participation.

For his part, Ethiopia’s Minister of Industry, Mr. Melaku Alebel, highlighted that products being manufactured in the region are increasingly substituting imported goods, with some also entering international markets.

He stressed that efforts to strengthen domestic production across all sectors will continue to be scaled up by fully utilizing the region’s diverse industrial potential.

Participants at the forum also noted that despite significant progress in the region’s industrial development in recent years, challenges remain, particularly in areas related to power supply, infrastructure, and access to finance.